Who’s the gaali-galoch expert?
Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod revisited the casting journey of Vidya Balan in Parineeta (2005), as the film gears up for a re-release. Speaking at a special screening in Mumbai, he recalled, “A lot of top heroines wanted to do Parineeta. But Pradeep Sarkar said there’s a new girl from Chembur. So I said, ‘Test this girl from Chembur’.” Chopra also revealed that Vidya went through an exhaustive process with nearly 20–25 rounds of testing. “She was so exhausted by the process that she actually muttered gaalis [expletives] before her final audition,” he chuckled.
Mollywood bromance
(L-R) Mohanlal and Mammootty
Malayalam superstar Mammootty recently took to his secretary, George Sebastian’s social media handle to confirm his “full recovery”, thanking fans and well-wishers for supporting him in the journey. The announcement ended months of speculation about his health. His close friend Mohanlal marked the moment by posting a photo kissing Mammootty on the cheek, a gesture that quickly went viral among fans. Earlier, Mohanlal’s prayer at Sabarimala for Mammootty’s well-being had sparked debate but was widely seen as a touching expression of their enduring friendship.
Deepika’s 100 days of shoot
Atlee and Deepika Padukone
As Deepika Padukone preps to headline filmmaker Atlee’s ambitious spectacle AA22xA6 with Allu Arjun, the buzz around the film is steadily growing. We have heard that she has committed nearly 100 days to shoot, preparing for high-octane action and dramatic sequences in a specially designed warrior avatar with custom weaponry. Mounted on a massive budget with an international crew, the film also features Rashmika Mandanna, Janhvi Kapoor, and Mrunal Thakur. Spanning parallel worlds, the story has Allu Arjun in a triple role. The shoot is expected to run until September 2026, with a release slated for late 2027. Adding further weight, Ramya Krishnan, celebrated for her iconic turn in Baahubali (2015), has also joined the ensemble.
Nora’s Chennai diaries
Nora Fatehi
Actor and dancer Nora Fatehi is making her Tamil debut with Kanchana 4, the next chapter in the popular horror-comedy franchise. Explaining her choice, she said, “When Kanchana 4 was offered, I immediately felt it was the right project to step into Tamil cinema. The script stood out and the franchise already has such a strong legacy.” On adapting to a new language, she noted, “Tamil has been the hardest so far, but I spend extra hours rehearsing lines and working on pronunciation.” Fatehi, who has also worked in Hindi, Telugu, and Malayalam films, added, “Every industry has its own flavour. Tamil cinema is rooted in storytelling, Bollywood is more larger-than-life — and for me, it’s exciting to learn from both.”
National Award for TV actors, please
Sooraj Barjatya
After Rupali Ganguly urged that the National Awards also recognise television artistes (National Awards for TV actors?, August 6), filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya supported her call, stressing that the medium demands equal respect. “TV is an art form, and it requires immense hard work. A set runs for 12–14 hours at a stretch. In films, actors get breathers, but in TV, performers live their roles daily and directors create under constant pressure. So yes, National Awards should include television actors,” he told Tele talk India.
